50 Design Ideas under $50

50 Design ideas under $50

Whether you want a room that is energetic, relaxing or anything in between – you can achieve that look on the cheap with décor. To help fuel your creativity, here are easy design ideas that you can do for less than fifty dollars, straight from the pages of Tom and Leslie’s book: My Home, My Money Pit: Your Guide to Every Home Improvement Adventure.

Idea #1: New Day, New Color

Changing the color of your room is one of the simplest changes that yield big impact. Go for a linen technique using a mixture of glaze and your color choice. Roll the paint on the wall in sections and pull a wall paper brush through the paint vertically and horizontally to create a woven look.

Idea #2: Vintage Backsplash

Use logo sections of wood wine crates cut to a uniform size and use them to create an imaginative backsplash. If you love the experience of cooking and eating, you most likely enjoy wine, then this is the backsplash for you!

Idea #4: Soffit Light Box

For a bright colorful detail that can capture everything from modern to traditional style, create an illuminated design detail using the blank space from above your kitchen cabinets to the ceiling line.

Idea #8: Gussied-up Lamp Shade

Create instant interest to a plain lampshade by attaching decorative ribbon or trimming to the bottom edge of your lampshade using fabric or hot glue. Multiple layers of trimming can also add depth and texture.

Idea #15: Wall Detailing

Add visual interest to plain walls by creating paneling using decorative molding. Add a chair rail, crown or base molding, wainscoting, or even use flat molding to add a frame to the wall. Use the frames to add detail to a formerly plain space by highlighting artwork or pieces of patterned wallpaper.

Idea #16: Wall Paneling

If you love the look of wood paneled wainscoting but hate the work and the expense, create that same richly paneled look using paneled doors made of either wood or composite. Turn the door sideways and attach to the lower portion of your wall to create instant wood wainscoting.

Idea #17: Furniture Redeux

Whether you have an existing piece of furniture or a great salvage store find, this trick can help you can instantly give it new life. Choose a table, desk, or sideboard that has very classical styling and paint it a very unexpected color, like bright pink, turquoise, or deep purple. You

Idea #19: Travel to Light and Space

Hang a mirror in your room to make it instantly seem larger. By hanging your mirror opposite a window, the reflection will not only help to make the room feel bigger, it is also going to add lots of extra light to the space.

Idea #20: Accessorizing to the Season

Give any room in your home a fresh and seasonal vibe by changing the accessories. Items like throw pillows, candle votives, and other decorative items can set the tone for the warmer and cooler times of the year. Choose colors and fabrics that evoke the feeling of the season.

Idea #21: Texturize Your Windows

Add depth and texture to your room with inexpensive natural blinds. When paired with luscious draperies they help to add an earthy balance to create a nicely dressed up window.

Idea #23: Flowers Power

Breathe instant life to any room with fresh flowers. Group flowers together of assorted sizes in various tones of the same color. Choose a vase that works well with the scale of your flowers and add florist

Idea #25: Faux Mercury Glass

Turn any inexpensive glass vase into an ultra stylish piece of mercury glass using Krylon® LookingGlass® mirror spray paint. Painted glass vases or trays can add instant drama and design to any room.

Idea #30: Create a Painted Floor

Add visual appeal to an otherwise blank slate by painting a wood floor any where in your home. Diamond patterns or decorative rugs can easily be achieved in a few steps and with the right colors can look absolutely charming. To finish off your work of art, be sure to add a clear topcoat to help your work last a long time.

Idea #31: Romantic Outdoor Dining

When the warm evening beckons dining al fresco add some romantic light to set the mood. A candle chandelier hung above your dining table will help create the perfect setting.

Idea #33: Shade a Pergola

If your outdoor retreat contains a pergola you can creatively block the sun and the heat. Here

Idea #38: Pillow Panache

Simple single color pillow are an inexpensive addition to any sofa or chair. But cheap doesn

Idea #40: Faux Detail

If your room is short on architectural detail and you

Idea #45: Side Table Lighting

Traditional table lamps are not a side table

Idea #46: Knobby Jewelry Storage

Accessory storage can be tricky especially when in comes to all of those trends in stylish neckwear. Solve this problem by attaching several decorative knobs directly to your wall or to a piece of painted MDF. Stagger them in a pattern so long necklaces don

Idea #47: Kitchen Storage Found

There is valuable kitchen real estate under those upper cabinets. Hang pots out of the way. Add pull out natural woven and metal bins on easy to operate tracks to pick up some storage space where there was none before. This is the perfect place for onions, potatoes, dishtowels, or craft supplies.

Want more ideas?

Get a free download of “50 Decorating Ideas for Under 50 Bucks,” Chapter 9 from Tom and Leslie’s book: My Home, My Money Pit: Your Guide to Every Home Improvement Adventure.The entire chapter is available free by clicking here.